French Double Buckle Boots

[Bushmaniac]

Can anyone help me identify these boots and their age?
I am not certain of the exact pattern.
The soles are marked "Belle Donne Fit Grenoble".

[lew]

Mle. 52, 2nd type, as evidenced by the separate sewn-on buckle flaps. Correct for the Algerian War period. I have a pair from the same maker. There will be a date stamp along with other numbers on the tongue and inside above the ankle. I wear mine about once a week. Pretty comfy once they're broken in. Hit 'em with some oil to keep them protected. They will also darken significantly.

[Bushmaniac]

Originally Posted by lew

Mle. 52, 2nd type, as evidenced by the separate sewn-on buckle flaps. Correct for the Algerian War period. I have a pair from the same maker. There will be a date stamp along with other numbers on the tongue and inside above the ankle. I wear mine about once a week. Pretty comfy once they're broken in. Hit 'em with some oil to keep them protected. They will also darken significantly.

Thank you for the information.
Was this model not used in Indochina as well?

[BrunoH]

Originally Posted by Bushmaniac

....Was this model not used in Indochina as well?

Hi,
No, it wasn't. Only during Algeria war and after ...

[Bushmaniac]

Originally Posted by BrunoH

Hi,
No, it wasn't. Only during Algeria war and after ...

What do you base this statement upon?

The French exit from Indochina was formalised in May 1954.
If these boots were made in e.g. 1952-53:
Could they not have been sent to the French in Indochina?

The M-1947 model canvas boots/pataugas were provided by the French to South Vietnam up until the late 1950s.
Could these boots not have been part of that aid as well?

[lew]

Originally Posted by Bushmaniac

What do you base this statement upon?

The French exit from Indochina was formalised in May 1954.
If these boots were made in e.g. 1952-53:
Could they not have been sent to the French in Indochina?

The M-1947 model canvas boots/pataugas were provided by the French to South Vietnam up until the late 1950s.
Could these boots not have been part of that aid as well?

They were provided to Metropolitan units in France, but stocks of other boots (US M43, Mle. 50 Jump boots, etc...) were to be used up in the Far East before these were issued. The Mle. 52 did not see service in Indochina, but were standardized and in common use by the time the Algerian festivities got under way. FYI, they were not blackened until late 1960, with many units just starting to do so by the tme the war was over in 1962.

[Bushmaniac]

Originally Posted by lew

They were provided to Metropolitan units in France, but stocks of other boots (US M43, Mle. 50 Jump boots, etc...) were to be used up in the Far East before these were issued. The Mle. 52 did not see service in Indochina, but were standardized and in common use by the time the Algerian festivities got under way. FYI, they were not blackened until late 1960, with many units just starting to do so by the tme the war was over in 1962.

Interesting...
Thanks!

[VALERY226]

Bonjour,

I confirm Lew's answer for the double buckles.
However, let me add that the first M52 boots 've been made in 1954 but have only a single buckle.
Crates of this early pattern were shipped to VN and issued to vietnamese units. One of my friend's father, platoon leader in a BPVN, worn these boots and brought back his pair to France.
The vietnamese armed forces used the single buckle pattern till the late 50's. I noticed that this model is widely used during this period by the VNMC.

Hope it could help

Cheers

V

[VALERY226]

Here is the first pattern M52


QM stamps



Cheers

V

[kammo man]

Great pair of boots Vallery I have never seen a pair for sale at a militaria show in the US !!!!

owen

[paul.j]

I havn't seen a pair like that for sale anywhere,
Paul

[VALERY226]

Thank you for your interest gentlemen!
I ran after this pattern during more than 15 years and harder when I discovered it was largely used by the VNMC in the early years.
This pair came from a crate shipped to Saigon and for unknown reason came back to France. I discovered it in a small army shop and got a picture of the crate (it's in my crahed computer).

Cheers

V

[lew]

Wow! in all my research, I never even came across mention of any single-buckle boots. Very cool, and thank you for sharing.

[cookie]

Lew,

They're mentioned in the 'Histoire & Collections' book 'Les Paras Francais en Indochine' by Eric Adam and Patrice Pivetta. They discuss the boots and have a colour photo of them.

[kammo man]

Nice V !

o